Coil cleaning device



July 20, 1937. E. SCHAER COIL CLEANING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1935wvavron: EUGENE SC/{AER Attorney Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFIQE 0011. CLEANING DEVICE Eugene Schaer, Fort Frances,Ontario, Canada 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a cleaning device for hose, pipes, coils andthe like and particularly to an automatic cleaner for brewers beer hoseand pipes.

The object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device which isefiective in action and completely automatic in operation.

The invention comprises broadly a valve housing including passagewaysconnecting the valve with a pipe or hose to be cleaned, means connectingthe passageways with a source of water supply, valve means for reversingthe flow of water through the passageways and a cleansing body for thepipe or hose, said cleansing body being adapted to actuate the valvemeans.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the cleaning device,

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the cleansing body, and

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 3.

In the drawing, I is the main valve housing mounted on a stand 2 andprovided with an inlet port 3 and an outlet port 4. The housing I isalso provided with a pair of ports 5 into which are screwed the bushings6 forming connections for the opposite ends of the hose 1 to be cleaned.

Mounted. within the housing I is an open ended hollow sylinder 8preferably supported by a ring I formed integral with the housing. Thecylinder 8 is provided with a pair of inlet ports 9 and 9 and a pair ofoutlet ports l and [0. A wall II is formed at the centre of the cylinder8.

A pair of valve sleeves l2 carried by the shaft [3 are mounted forreciprocation in the cylinder 8 and are adapted to close or open ports 9and 9' and I0 and I0. The sleeves are open-ended being supported by thewebs l2. The shaft I 3 extends centrally through the ports and throughan opening in the wall II and is provided with a rubber cushion [4 ateach end.

Means are provided for accurately positioning the sleeves I2 in twooperative positions comprising several metal balls [5 located inopenings l6 formed in the wall ll, normally urged inwardly by springsl1, and adapted to slidingly engage the surface of shaft l3 andcooperate with grooves [8 formed in the shaft.

A handle or supporting lug l9 may be mounted on the housing I.

A cleansing body or brush 20, adapted for propulsion through the pipe orhose 1 to thereby cylinder 2|. Water seal expansion rings 25 arepositioned adjacent the rings 24 and may consist of three segmentalparts normally urged outwardly by springs 25 located in inner openingsin the rings 25 with their inner ends engaging sleeve portions of mainouter retaining rings 21.

Screws 28 serve to hold the assembly together. Propelling cups 29 areformed in the rings 21. A frictional cleansing medium is mounted on theouter surface of the cylinder 2| and as shown in the present instancemay comprise the bristles 30. Any other suitable medium such as spongerubber may of course be employed.

In operation, the ends of the hose or pipe 1 to be cleaned are connectedto the bushings 6 and the inlet port 3 is connected to a source of watersupply, which may be the usual water line or to a pump. With the partsin the position shown in Figure 1, water under the usual line pressure,enters the port 3, flows through port 9 into the right hand end ofcylinder 8, out 30 of port 5 into the hose 7, and engages the cupped endportion of the brush 25 to thus propel the same through the hose.Unclean liquid in the hose is forced ahead of the brush into theopposite end of cylinder 8 through a sleeve [2 and escapes throughoutlets l0 and 4. When the brush 20 arrives at the other end of the hoseit engages a cushioned end of shaft I3 and moves the same, together withthe sleeves l2 to its second position, thus closing ports 9 and Ill andopening ports 9' and H]. Water then flows through port 9 and out of theother port 5 into the opposite end of hose 1 to force the brush 20 backthrough the hose. The brush thus automatically travels back and forththroughout the hose circuit. The bristles 3U cleanse the inside of thehose of slime and sediment and the water thoroughly flushes out thesame. The expansion rings 25 maintain the brush in Water sealingengagement with the inner surface of the hose whereby the brush may berapidly propelled through the hose. The cups 29 also aid in thepropulsion of the brush. The resilient joint in the brush formed by thespring 23 and bevelled washers 22 enables the brush to flexiblynegotiate loops and coils in the hose with ease. When clear water isexpelled at the outlet ports, it is evident that the hose has been com-7 pletely cleaned. f r 5 If desired, a sterilizing solution may beemployed instead of, water. 7 7

It will be obvious that various modifications may be made in the designof the various parts 7 of the device without departing from the spirit10 of the invention as defined in the appended claims. r V

I claim:

1. In a cleaning device for hose, pipes and the like, a valve housinghaving an inlet and anout- 7 I15 let, passageways connecting the housingwith a pipe or hose to be cleaned, a cylindrical valve member inthe'housing having open ends communicating with said passageways and awall in-' a passageways and the outlet, a valve stem axially mountedinsaid sleeves and adapted to actuate the same, and means for positivelypositioning said valve. sleeves in a plurality of operative positions,said means comprising ball bearings 5 mounted within said wall andhaving resilient bearing contact with said valve stem, said valve stemhaving grooves adapted to receive said bear-. j

mgs. V

2. In a cleaning device for hose, pipes and the 10 like, a valve housinghaving an inlet and an out- "let, passageways connecting the housingwith a hose or pipe to be cleaned, a plurality of valve sleevesreciprocally mounted within said housing and adapted to providecommunication be-' 15' tween the inlet and one of said passageways andone of said passageways and the outlet, a

valve stem mounted within said housing and axially carrying said valvesleeves, means for actuating said valve stem to place said valve sleevesin a plurality of operating positions; and V means for positivelypositioning said valve stem

